Pneumonic Plague Kills in China

Public buses were ordered off the roads of a remote Chinese town to control the possible spread of deadly pneumonic plague that has killed three people and seemed poised to claim a fourth victim Wednesday, residents and authorities said , The Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, medical staff are disinfecting the region and tracking down people who have been in close contact with those affected by the plague

The local government has quarantined the town and its vicinity. The area has adequate essential supplies and the quarantine has not disrupted the locals' lives , Xinhua reports.

However, China has become proactive in dealing with infectious diseases in the last few years. It was criticised for being too slow in reacting to the Sars epidemic in 2002, but has recently introduced swift and stringent measures to counter the spread of the swine flu virus , Irish Times reports.